Gabriel Knight Mysteries - PC Games

This limited edition pack includes Gabriel Knight I: Sins Of The Fathers and Gabriel Knight II: The Beast Within, a further adventure in which you play either Gabriel or his assistant, Grace Nakimura. It also contains a soundtrack CD, a graphic novel previewing Gabriel Knight III and the full-length novel Sins of Fathers, which is a spin-off from the game.

Working chapter by chapter, you solve mysteries and try to piece together the puzzle. The games work on a points for action system, rather like the old text-based adventure games, only each action is played out in video with numerous cut scenes to keep the game rolling. Gabriel Knight I is a bit old and needs a bit of tweaking to get it to run on a powerful machine but part II is reassuringly fast, if a little dated in video playback. The sound is impressive and as it is set in Germany the language is accurate and amusing--if you speak the lingo.

Overall, the games are intriguing and highly addictive--and totally original. Patience and common sense are needed to play, rather than a powerful machine, as they'll run on very little power. If you are looking for an inclusive package, something totally original, or an investigative mystery game, Gabriel Knight is great fun. --Chris Hall